Well, we may not be able to have our cake and eat it too, but if we have a recipe…we can always bake another!

My favorite cake growing up was my Grandmother Price’s cake.  She always made it for my birthday.  In those days, I thought it was exotic because my mom’s cakes were either store bought or just the plain box mix frosted with a tub of icing.

Grandma’s cake was delicious.  It was moist, flavorful, and had a tropical taste, which I loved.

At some point in my young adult life, grandma shared her recipe with me.  I am so thankful that she did.  This recipe may be everywhere as is or in other variations.  But for me, it is the comfort of childhood, the love of a grandma, and many happy memories all baked up into a cake.

Grandma was a good cook and a generous person. Anytime there was illness in a family, she baked a pie or cake and took to them. The way you knew it was from Grandma Price was that she always cut a little sliver out to taste. She wanted to make sure it was good enough to give away.

If you want to taste a slice of Heaven, here is my grandmother’s recipe.  She would be delighted to share it with you.

You will need:

Duncan Hines Golden Butter cake mix
1/2 cup Wesson oil
3 eggs
11 oz. can of mandarin oranges, drained and chopped (I cut each piece into thirds)

Mix the first three ingredients.  Then gently fold in the mandarin oranges.  Pour into two 8-inch pans that have been greased and dusted with flour.  Bake according to the directions on the box.

For the frosting (which is divine!):

9 oz. tub of Cool Whip
1 package of vanilla pudding mix
1 large can crushed pineapple

Mix all ingredients.  Let set for a few minutes, then mix again.  Pudding mix will begin to dissolve in the juice of the pineapple.

Use the frosting as the filling between the layers, as well as frosting all over the cake.  You may even want to double the recipe, so you will have plenty to serve on the side.

I refrigerate this cake, so that the Cool Whip stays cold.  The cake tastes better cold, as well.  But honestly, it never lasts long, so that isn’t much of a worry!